Why is the Vatican So far Behind The Times Communications Wise?

Vatican publishing house: New page, new director, new ideas
That is the title of this Catholic News Service piece.

I say about time. I think Catholics are puzzled at times at how the Vatican does not take advantage of it resources especially in the communication field. I think they have made great strides as to their web page but I think even that is even only meeting a tenth of its potential.

One wonders why Vatican Radio and Vatican Television are not doing continious live feeds through the net, cable and satelite for instance. Sort of like a global EWTN or better yet a Catholic version of the BBC. Let me fair to Vatican Radio. As can be seen on their English section they have a some resources already. However for some reason even that page does not give a clue of what have available. You have to do another click on the English World section to get that great page. That page should be the first thing that comes up. I bet 95 percent of Catholic bloggers don't even know about that wonderful page. I never see it on links. MARKETING MARKETING MARKETING. Even non profits do that. Why isnt' that the first thing we see when we hit the english link on the Vatican Radio main page? Vatican Television (Once you find it) still has a way to go as you can see.

I have a few of theories of why that is so.

First, the Vatican and the Holy See is meant to operate in a slow way. When the Vatican or the Pope speaks it has serious effects. Thus there is a need to slow things down. The means making sure what is broadcast is correct. I was struck by that a couple of years ago in this insightful and funny article about the First Lady Laura Bush visit to the Vatican that was in Time Magazine called 5 rules for covering the Vatican. It is a good read and one gets a insight of this attitude. Here is a part of it:

The press pool was in the charge of a nun, attired in blue, who could not conceive of ABC's Ann Compton taking a laptop into the palace. The reporters had been told to bring their stuff with them because they would be running to catch the motorcade as Mrs. Bush departed. "Leave it to a colleague outside," the nun said insistently. "You don't need a computer." Finally, the nun did away with diplomacy and said, "There is no way." An Associated Press reporter from Rome asked about a tape recorder. "Absolutely no recorder in the library of the pope," the nun replied, then clicked her tongue reprovingly, as if in a movie. The nun hurried reporters along one of the narrow, back corridors of the Vatican, which have marble floors and art hanging on the wall, saying, "That's the way." At one point, I was scolded for an unintentional and mysterious infraction. She said, "You understand English? Do you prefer me to use Latin? Spanish? Italian? No more 'Yes, ma'am'! I will call a Swiss Guard and have you removed" Apparently deciding the sin only was a venial one, she granted absolution by reaching in her black bag and handing over a color map and a fact sheet, with a businesslike smile.

2) Plan for everything to be meticulously plannedPress arrangements for such a visit are the product of delicate and exhausting negotiations by the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See and the White House advance staff. The Vatican, with a couple thousand years of history on its side, does not respond to urgency or pushiness. Speed, "necessity," tension — all are anathema. It's one of the few places the President or First Lady goes that the White House doesn't basically get what it wants. Vatican officials don't like e-mail — everything has to be faxed or hand-delivered, with many of the details spelled out in diplomatic notes, known locally as "dip notes." The Vatican still moves at its ancient rhythm. But one legacy of Pope John Paul II's well-known attention to the news media was evident: a Vatican satellite truck was parked out back as Mrs. Bush's motorcade arrived.

Second, I also think there is a correct mindset by the Church to put the Pope in his proper place. A important place no doubt but not to give the impression that the rest of the Bishops don't matter. I think this is echoed by the Catechism.

"The power which they exercise personally in the name of Christ, is proper, ordinary, and immediate, although its exercise is ultimately controlled by the supreme authority of the Church."427 But the bishops should not be thought of as vicars of the Pope. His ordinary and immediate authority over the whole Church does not annul, but on the contrary confirms and defends that of the bishops. Their authority must be exercised in communion with the whole Church under the guidance of the Pope.

In other words while it important to be in Union and pay attention to the Successor of St Peter, we need to remember that our Bishop is a successor of the Apostles too. St Ignatius of Antioch from around 110 ad(He himself confirmed in his office by St Peter) hits on this in his writings.

In the Letter to the MAGNESIANS
As therefore the Lord did nothing without the Father, being united to Him, neither by Himself nor by the apostles, so neither do ye anything without the bishop and presbyters.


Be ye subject to the bishop, and to one another, as Jesus Christ to the Father, according to the flesh, and the apostles to Christ, and to the Father, and to the Spirit; that so there may be a union beth fleshly and spiritual.


Since therefore I have, in the persons before mentioned, beheld the whole multitude of you in faith and love, I exhort you to study to do all things with a divine harmony, while your bishop presides in the place of God, and your presbyters in the place of the assembly of the apostles, along with your deacons, who are most dear to me, and are entrusted with the ministry of Jesus Christ, who was with the Father before the beginning of time, and in the end was revealed. Do ye all then, imitating the same divine conduct, pay respect to one another, and let no one look upon his neighbour after the flesh, but do ye continually love each other in Jesus Christ. Let nothing exist among you that may divide you ; but be ye united with your bishop, and those that preside over you, as a type and evidence of your immortality.

St Ignatius hit on the importance of local Bishop often and even in more direct terms.

So perhaps the Bishop of Rome does not want to be seen as the only Bishop and font all of information for Catholics. Like I said it is just a theory of mine.

Third, all these is awfully expensive. The Vatican is not rich and I breath a sigh of relief when it operates in the black for the fiscal year. That is often a rare occurance. I often wonder who the heck is charge of marketing Peter's Pence. Which is of course the annual collection where we donate to the needs of the Holy Father and the Vatican. I realize that the Pope doesn't need to be a like a TV evangelist asking for money every second but there is some room to improve here. I do think that the thousands of lay organizations around the World could assist in promoting funding fo these endevors. Heck maybe the Vatican needs to learn the power of PenPal and start enlisting bloggers with banners and such things.

Finally lets face it. We are dealing with a age demographic that are running things that might not be so techo savvy.

All these being said the Vatican and the Holy See have improved matters but there is a way to go yet

Returning to the piece about the the new director of the Vatican Publishing house. This is a area that the Vatican could be great at and maybe run in the black. How are they doing? Well lets say looking at their web page this article was not timed to highlight the fact that it has got all the bugs worked out. Especially when I hit on the what appears to be the english section and I get this "HTTP Status 404 - /en/index.jsp" Oh well. They are trying. As the line goes " We have come a Long way Baby"